Canal lining machine



y 2, 1961 w. c. PETERSEN ETAL 2,982,104

CANAL LINING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 25. 1957 INVENTORS 2MILTER c. PETERSEN HERSCHEL c. LARUE BY Q ZQWJ/W A 7' TORNEYS May 2,1961 w. c. PETERSEN EI'AI. 2,

I CANAL LINING MACHINE I Filed Oct. 25, 1957' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENfORSWALTER C. PETERSEN HERSCHEL C. LARUE BY WC? MW y 1961 w. c. PETERSENETAL 2,982,104

CANAL LINING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1957 a Sheets-Sheet :s

INVENTORS WALTER C. PETERSEN HERSCHEL C. LAIIUE '5 A TTORNEKS UnitedStates Patent CANAL LINING MACHINE Walter C. Petersen, Sacramento, andHerschel C. La Rue, slllSllll, Califi, assignors to A. Teichert & Son,Inc., Sacramento, Calif.

Filed Oct. 25, 1957, Sen No. 692,395

1 Claim. or. 61-63) use with canals which have been excavated byequipment of the kind specified in our co-pending application, SerialNo. 659,159, filed May 14, 1957, entitled Canal Excavating Apparatus. Asis more fully described therein, a canal excavated by such apparatus notonly has accurately ,Fatented Ma 2, 1961 plane of section being avertical plane along the center- 1 tion;

sloped and aligned boundary walls but also provides an accurately gradedand aligned pair of pathways on each side of the canal adjacent the topedges of the canal walls.

So carefully are these pathways made, in fact, that the canal liningmachine of the present invention is able to use these paths assupporting surfaces for the machine as lining proceeds. This is to becontrasted with the costly metal railway type of tracks which haveheretofore been required, at great installation expense.

Furthermore, ditch lining machines previously in use have been bulky anddifficult to move from place to place substantial disassembly andre-assembly often being required.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a freely portablecanal lining machine.

It is another object of the inventionto provide a 7 machine which can.be towed along a vehicular highway or road at a fast rate of speed, andwhich can therefore be readily and quickly moved from site to site.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a Figure 5 is aperspective of the machine with the frame in elevated position and withthe wheels oriented to tow position;

Figure 6 is a perspective, to an enlarged scale of the wheel postmechanism, the machine frame being shown in elevated position,'with thewheel removed to reduce the extent of the figure;

Figure 7 is a view comparable to that of Figure 6 but with the machineframe in lowered position;

Figure 8 is a plan of the towing and front wheel steering mechanism,showing, in outline, the location of the members as turning occurs; and

Figure 9 is a section, the plane of sectionbeing indicated by the line99 in Figure 8.

While the canal lining machine of the invention is susceptible ofnumerous physical embodiments, depending upon the environment and thekind of use to which it is to be put, several of the herein shown anddescribed embodiments have been made and used and have performed in ahighly successful fashion, the machine having been demonstrated, withoutstanding success, for example, before water and irrigation expertsfrom all over the world.

Since the machines long axis is transverse to the canals axis when themachine is in lining position and It is yet another object of theinvention to provide a machine which accurately,; yet rapidly, linescanals and ditches. I

It is a further object of the. invention to'provide a canal liningmachine which eliminates the need for rails or tracks.

It is still a further objectof the invention to provide a machine whicheffects a smooth wall finish, thereby eliminating friction and otherparasitic losses relating to water flow in the canal. j

\ lt is yet a further object of the invention tojprovide a canal liningmachine in which joints in the lining can readily/be madeasfdesired; my.

It is another object of theinvention to provide a gener-ally improvedcanal liningimachine,

1 :Other. objects, -together, with thejoregoing, are attained V intheembodiinent described inith e .followingdescription and-: shown inthe accompanying drawings, in which; 1

, canal.

since this is the operative position of the device, the portions of themachine adjacent the edges of the canal are termed the machines sides,whereas the portions facing toward and away from the direction ofmovement in the canal are called the forward end and after, or rearward,end, respectively, of the machine.

Thus, in Figures l-3, the machine is seen to include i downwardlyinclined plate, termed a side shoe plate 16,

or forward side form plate, adapted to slide along the adjacent slopingside wall of the previously excavated The coaction of the two side shoeplates, each contacting throughout most of its area at least the highpoints of the subjacent canal wall, serves to center. the machine sothat as it moves along the canal the correct alignment is maintained.

Extending across the bottom edges of each of the side shoe plates is abottom shoe plate 17', as appears most clearly in Figures 2-and 5,theforward or leading edge being sometimes bevelled; as at 18, was toglide smoothly forwardly over the canal bottom :19, the shoe 17 servingto smooth and somewhat compact the surfaceof the canal bottom. Inaddition, the shoewalls and shoe bottom assist in supporting the weightof the machine as it moves alongthe canal.

: Immediately adjacent and to the rear ofthe trailing edge 21 of theshoeis aconcrete feed port, generally designated 26 and includingja pairof inclined side ports 27 and a bottom port 28. The ports are eachgenerally rectangular in section and includela forward wall 29,

- a rear wall 30-and a top wall 31. .At'the uppermost extremity of eachof the side ports an enlarged concrete feed throat 32 is provided, theconcrete being poured down both throats, into the ports and distributingitself along both side walls and on the bottom of the canal. Asubstantially equal amount of concrete pours-through each of the throatsdespite the fact that in the usual case the load is poured into only oneor the other (whichever is more convenient) ofa pair of hoppers 36,mounted on the opposite sides of the frame 11. Equality of throat feedis achieved by providing a crosschannel 37 extending between the tops ofthe opposite throats and the bottoms of the opposite hoppers, and bymounting within the channel a screw-feed 38, or helix, mounted. on ashaft 39 and serving, when suitably rotated, to equalize the poured loadbetween both of the feed ports.

The thickness of the concrete lining is governed by a predetermineddistance, or off-set measured normally to the adjacent canal wall orbottom, as appearsmost clearly in Figure 2, between the bottom of theshoe plate 17 and the bottom of a form plate 41, there being form platesnot only on the bottom but on the sides as well, the side form platesbeing designated by the numeral 42.

It is to be understood that in the usual case the dimensions of themachine are closely related to the dimensions of the canal, and thelining thickness is a matter carefully defined by the jobspecifications. Consequently, the machine would be proportioned so thatthe upper ends of the concrete side feed ports and the adjacent throatportions are substantially co-extensive with the upper edges of thecanal, a slight variance from this situation being shown in Figures 1and 2 for clarity. Additionally, although the figures illustrate formplates which are fixed in position it is deemed within the ability ofpersons skilled in the art to provide form plates whose off-sets fromthe shoe plates can be varied to predetermined values so that differentconcrete thicknesses are achievable at will.

Conveniently, the form plates 41 and 42. extend rearwardly from thetrailing edges of the off-set rear port walls 30 to a bottom rearcross-beam 46, and a pair of sloping side wall beams 47, respectively. Avertical center brace 48 extending between the bottom beam 46 and therear top beam 12 serves to strengthen the structure.

As can be visualized most clearly by reference to Figure 2, the concreteemerging from the port 28 is spread into a layer of predeterminedthickness between the smoothed canal boundary 51 and the bottom of theform plate 41 as the machine moves forwardly in the righthandeddirection indicated by the arrow 52. Comparable action occurssimultaneously over the side walls. Vibrations would ordinarily beinduced in the poured material by conventional mechanism (not shown).

While the lining is often quite satisfactory as to smoothness of surfaceas it emerges from the trailing edge 53 of the form 41 (and thecorresponding trailing edges of the side wall forms), mechanism isprovided for giving an even smoother, trowel-type of finish. Thetroweling mechanism, designated by the numeral 55, includes a transversebottom plate 56, or bottom trowel, having a slightly downwardly andrearwardly sloped portion 57 and, to the rear, a substantiallyhorizontal portion 58. Comparable forward portions 59and rearwardportions 60 are formed in a pair of side-wall trowels 61. The trowelsderive an especial effectiveness owing to the fact that they arefloating, the bottom trowel 56, for example, being spring-urged in adownward direction by an appropriate pair of springs 63 whose upper endsabut the lower surfaces of the webs of a pair of channels 64 mounted ina fore and aft direction on the cross-beam 46 and welded to the feedport wall 30. A pair of threaded bolts 66 in engagement with tappedapertures in the channels pass through the springs 63 and abut againstthe trowels, and so prevent 4 the trowel from being lifted by theconcrete to above a predetermined elevation, the height beingestablished by screwing the bolts in or out by a predetermined amount.The spring tends to urge the trowel downwardly and into the concrete.The concrete mass opposes this urgency. As a consequence, a smoothlytroweled surface is realized. A pair of corresponding screw bolts 67 ona pair of fore and aft channels 68 on each of the sides achieves acomparable troweled effect on the side walls.

Conveniently, a platform 71 mounted on a pair of channels 72 suitablysecured to the after ends of the channels 64, as by hinges 73, enables aworkman to stand thereon, as the machine proceeds, and to observe themanner of lining to see that all is in correct order. When the machineis moved to another site, the platform can be swung into verticalattitude and out of the way.

The platform 71 also permits the workman standing thereon to operate, atpredetermined spaced intervals, a joint-forming mechanism, generallydesignated by the numeral 81, and shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 2.Joints are produced in concrete slabs and liners at spaced intervals topermit, when necessary, of easier repair or removal of the portions ofthe slab. The joints consist of linear transverse slits or indentations.In the instant device, a horizontal strap 82, preferably somewhatsharperred at its lower edge 83, extends transversely between the bottomends of a pair of vertical members 84 secured at their tops to across-member 85. Suitable diagonal braces 86 lend rigidity to thevertically movable, joint-producing structure 81. Tending to urge thestructure upwardly is a pair of tension springs 87 mounted at theirlower ends on the cross-bar and at their upper ends to the frame 12, thesprings 87 overcoming the combined weight of the structure 81 and thedownward urgency of a central spring 88 secured at its bottom end to thelower end of the fixed vertical brace 48 and at its top end on the crossmember 85. Upon reaching the proper location, the entire structure 81 isdepressed very quickly and forcefully downwardly, so that the bottomedge 83 (and comparable side edges, not shown) forms a transverse cutrather deeply into the still plastic concrete adjacent the plate edge53. As sharply, the downward force is released, and the springs 87quickly return the structure to normal position. The depressing forcecan come either from the force exerted by a workman standing on theplatform 71 pushing downwardly on the cross-member 85 with his hands, orpreferably, by his pushing downwardly on a footpedal, connected throughappropriate leverage (not shown) to the jointing mechanism 81. Eventhough the machine is moving, the sharp quick thrust given to the jointstructure produces a cleanly indented slot, and one which is notsignificantly altered by the subsequent troweling operation.

As the machine movesalong the canal, being pulled by suitable mechanismsuch as a winch and connecting cable, the machine issupported not onlyby the shoe plates previously mentioned, but also by a plurality ofground-engaging wheels 91 disposed on the opposite sides 13 of thedevice, each of the wheels being supported on a wheel post structure92.

Since each of the wheels and wheel posts is substantially identical, adescription of one will serve adequately to describe the others,especial reference being had to Figures 1, 4, 6, and 7.

Mounted on the side plate 13, as by bolts 96 is a pair of spacedvertical inner bars- 97 and a pair of spaced vertical outer bars 98, theouter bars being slightly Wider than the inner bars-so as to overhangthe inner edges of the inner bars somewhat, and thus produce a trackinto which is inserted a plate 99, the plate 99 being securely held inposition by a bolt 101 (see Figure 4) passing through and being inthreaded engagement with a large nut-102' welded on. the:inner wall. ofthe. side plate 13,

the bolt also passing through a registering aperture in the plate 13 anda registering opening in the plate 99. Removal of the bolt 101 permitsof easy removal of the plate 99, the plate being moved either upwardlyor downwardly until clear of the track.

Aifixed to the plate 99, as by welding, is a vertical sleeve 106, thesleeve being provided on its outermost portion with a narrow upperlongitudinal slit 107 and a broad lower longitudinal slit 108. The lowerslit 108 has mounted on the opposite margins thereof a pair of brackets109, each of the brackets having a pair of aper tures 111 adapted toreceive a pair of cross-bolts (not shown) which, when taken up, pulltogether the brackets, reduces the width between the slit 108 and thusclamps in the sleeve 106, a vertical tube 112 at any predeterminedvertical location and angular position.

While the clamping force exerted by the sleeve on the tube, as a resultof urging the brackets 109 toward each other, is sufficient to hold thetube 112 in desired orientation or angular position about the tubesvertical axis, such force, by itself, is not ordinarily adequate tomaintain the tube in the desired vertical relation with respect to thesleeve 106, there being other mechanism provided to accomplish thispurpose as will be described hereinafter.

The vertical tube 112 is provided with a bottom plug 116 having mountedthereon, in normal attitude, a stub axle 117 of conventional styleadapted to receive one of the ground-engaging wheels 91. Thus, the axle117 and the tube 112 are at all times at a fixed elevation above thewheel-supporting ground. K

It is the sleeve 106, therefore, and the attendant plate 99, the sideplate 13 and the frame 11 which is moved upwardly and downwardly withrespect to the fixed tube 112, axle 117 and wheel 91. In the positionshown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, the frame 11 is elevated .with respect tothe ground, the frame being high enough off the ground to permit themachines being towed along a highway. That is to say, the bottom shoeplate 17 is elevated above the lowermost portion of the pneumatic tires120 on the wheels 91.

In the position shown in Figures 1, 2, and 7, on the other hand, theframe 11 is in lowered position, that is to say in ditch-liningposition.

Referring particularly to Figure 7, with the frame in lowered position,it will be noted that the upper end of the tube 112 is capped by a plug121, also shown in Figure 4, in section, the plug 121 having a socket122 in its upper surface to receive the lower end 123 of a threaded stem124 provided at its upper end with a convenient crank handle 125, as,for example, a horizontal bar, as shown.

The stem 124 is in threaded engagement with a keeper bar 126, orcross-bar, having a pair of oppositely projecting ears 127, each of theears extending through a corresponding aperture 128 near the upper endofa vertical strap 131. v

Each of the pair of vertical straps 131.is provided with an uppervertical slot 132 and a lower vertical. slot 133, each of the slotshaving a vertical 'dimen sionsor'newhat in excess of the vertical"dimension of a vertical arm 136 depending from an outwardly extendingshoulder 137 mounted on opposite sides of the sleeve 106 adjacent theupper end of, the sleeve. Each of the slots 13?. and 133, in otherwords, is large enough so that the adjacent arm 136 can be insertedthrough the slot, either in an .upper position of the straps 131(corresponding to lowered position of the frame 11, as in. Figure 7), orin'a lower position of the straps (corresponding to raised position ofthe frame, as in Figure 6). I

Referring to Figure 6, with the frame 11 in elevated, or towing,position, it will be seen that the downward gravidownwardly under theirown weight.

arm and shoulder members.

tal force of the frame 11 is transmittedto the plate 99 r i (secured tothe frame by the bolt 101), thence to the .sleeve106 welded to the plate99. The two sleeve (not shown) on each corner of the frame.

shoulders 137, in turn, bear downwardly on the lower end of the slots132, urging downwardly the two straps 131. The downward urgency of thestraps 131 is transmitted to the ears 127 on the cross-bar 126 inthreaded engagement with the stem 124. The downward force exerted by thestem, in turn, is resisted by the plug 121 on the upper end of the tube112 which is supported by the axle 117 and the attendant wheel 91resting on the ground.

It is to be noted that whereas the two extreme strap portions permit ofgross adjustments in vertical position, the stem allows fine adjustmentsto be made. As appears most clearly in Figure 7, for example, should itbe desired to lower the frame 11 a slight' amount with respect to theaxle 117 (and thus with respect to the canal walls) it is only necessaryto turn the crank and thus rotate the stem 124 in such a direction thatthe cross-bar 126 and attendant straps 131, sleeve 106 and frame canmove Should it be desired to raise the frame 11 slightly the crank 125is turned so that the stems threads urge the bar 126 upwardly in themanner of a screw jack.

Gross adjustment is effected as follows: it being desired, for example,tochange the frame 11 from its lowered, or Figure 7, location to itsraised, or Figure 6, position. A crane boom (not shown) havingappropriate cables, is attached to the frame 11, as by four hook-eyesThe frame 11 is thereupon lifted by the crane a few inches until thelower strap slots 133 are in registry with the sleeve arms 136,thestraps, the bar 126 and the stem 124 having maintained, by their ownweight, their initial position with respect to the tube 112 and the axle117. Upon the slots 133 coming into registry with the arm 136, the strap131 can be moved outwardly, the arm 136 passing through the slot 133 andthe ear 127 concurrently becoming disengaged from the upper strapopening 128.

Upon disengagement of both straps the crane lifts the frame 11 upwardlyuntil the arms 136 are in registry with upper slots 132. Concurrently,the threaded stem is adjusted with respect to the cross bar 126 so thatthe ears 127 can be inserted through the apertures 123 as the arms 136are inserted through the upper slots 132. Thereafter the crank and thestem are rotated (the stern bearing downwardly on the upper plug 121) soas to raise the straps from a position of registry between the slots 132and the arms 136 to the relative location shown in Figure 6 wherein thebottom wall of the slot 132 bears upwardly against the shoulder 137. Atthis juncture, the crane support can be removed and the frame weightwill be supported, in the fashion previously described, on the tube 112which, by the axle and the wheel.

In the event that small vertical adjustment is required, appropriaterotation of the crank 125 and the stem 124 will effect the desiredchange. I

, When it becomes necessary to lower the crame from the Figure'6, ortowing, elevation to the Figure. 7, or lining, position, a crane isagain called upon to raise the frame and the sleeve until the and 136 isin registry with the slot 132 and the strap is disengaged from the Theframe is then lowered by the crane to the. desired elevation, at whichpoint the lower slots 133 of the straps are inserted over the arms 136and the stem rotated until the ears 127 can be urged through the strapopenings 128. Thereupon, the stem is further rotated so as to urge thestraps upwardly into tight abutment with the sleeve shoulders 137. Thecrane support can then be removed and theframe will be fully supportedby the wheels. Fine adjustment is thereafter possible by taking a fewturns one way or the other on the crank 125.

Having described the vertical adjustment of the frame with respect tothe ground-supported wheels, attention will now be turned to themechanism utilizedin diret tin turn, is supported arrow 153.

ing and maintaining the wheels in their proper orientation. Aspreviously pointed out, when the frame is in lowered or canal-liningposition, as appears most clearly in Figures 1 and 7, the wheels are sooriented that the two wheels on the same side of the frame are co-planarandare parallel to the two wheels on the opposite side of the frame.This orientation obviously requires that the axle 117, be directed asappears in Figure 7, the axis of the axle being normal to the side plate13. In order to assure accurate normal alignment, a rod 141 is welded ontop of the axle, the rod 141 being disposed at right angles to the axisof the axle and spaced from the tube a distance such that the rod spansand is in abutment with the outer edges of the brackets 109 when theframe is in lowered position. After the axle is properly orientated, thebrackets 109 are urged toward each other, as previously explained,thereby clamping the sleeve against the tube so as to prevent anypossible subsequent misalignment resulting from shocks and vibration.

Upon completion of lining the canal, the brackets are unclamped, theframe is raised and the straps re-set so that the wheel post and frameassumes the appearance shown most clearly in Figures 4 and 6. At thisjuncture, the tube 112 is rotated 90 so that the axles and the wheelsassume the orientation shown in Figure 5, the machine being then readyto be towed away to the next job.

In towing condition, the forward or front pair of wheels, shown at theleft in Figure 5, are provided with detachable structure enabling themto be turned in unison, and thus to facilitate movement of the machineon curves. Ordinarily the rear wheels would be fixed in direction, thesleeve 106 being tightly clamped on the tube 112 after orientation ofthe Wheels is effected. The front wheel tubes, on the other hand, arefree to rotate within their sleeves and thus the wheels are movable, asis indicated in Figure 8 about the vertical tube axis.

A traction unit (not shown) pulls a draw bar 143 bifurcuted adjacent itsrear end to form a yoke 144, the yoke being mounted on a cross-bar 146attached to the forward end of a pivot block 147. The pivot block 147,in turn, is pivotally mounted on a vertically disposed pivot pin 148,the pin 148 extending upwardly, as appears in Figure and beingdetachably fastened to the side plate 13. As the traction unit turns,the draw bar 143 and the yoke 144 are correspondingly moved, as, forexample, in the direction indicated by the arrow 151 in Figure 8.Concurrently, the after end 152 of the pivot block 147 pivots in thedirection indicated by the This motion, in turn is transmitted by a pairof radius rods 156, pivotally mounted, as by pins 157, on the block 147,to a pair of levers 16 1, or cranks, secured to the bottoms of theopposite axles, the outer ends of the rods being pivotally mountedthereon as by pins 162.

As appears most clearly in Figures 4, 8, and 9, the levers 161 aresecured, as by a detachable fastening 166 to a flange 167 depending fromthe bottom plug 116 of the tube 112, each of the levers being providedwith a forward flange 168 abutting the flange 167. Projecting rearwardlyfrom the flange 168 is a strengthening side plate 169and a' top plate171, the top plate necking 8 toward its rear end where the radius rodpivot 162 is mounted. As can be seen most clearly in Figure 8, lateralmovement of the radius rods causes the levers 161 to pivot about theaxes of the vertical tube structures 112, the wheels 91 being turned,accordingly, in unison.

Ease and speed of towing are therefore realized. The dimensions andweight of the machine are such, furthermore, that applicable motorvehicle and highway laws are complied with, enabling the machine to betowed on substantially all highways, streets and roads and thus reducingtransit time between jobs to a minimum.

It can therefore be seen that We have provided a canal lining machinewhich is not only highly mobile but which, once the job site is reached,can readily be placed in working condition, and which, furthermore,performs an inexpensive, accurate and quick canal lining job without aneed for pre-installed tracks.

What is claimed is:

A machine for lining an upwardly and outwardly flared canal withconcrete, said machine comprising: a frame having opposite sidesoverlying the banks of the canal; means depending from the sides of saidframe and conforming to the shape of the canal for substantiallysupporting said frame as said frame is advanced along the canal; meansdepending from the sides of said frame and upwardly displaced from saidframe supporting means for forming the thickness of the lining, saidlining forming means trailing from said frame supporting means; andmeans for introducing concrete mix between the forward margin of saidlining forming means and thetrailing margin of said frame supportingmeans, a pair of ground-engaging wheels mounted on each side of saidframe, means for mounting said wheels on said frame for verticaladjustment of said wheels with respect to said frame between a firstvertical position wherein said frame supporting means is in engagementwith the canal walls below the bottoms of said wheels and a secondvertical position wherein the lowermost portion of said frame supportingmeans is elevated above the bottoms of said wheels, and means forselectively securing said pairs of wheels in a first orientationparallel to the sides of said frame and a second orientation parallel tothe ends of said frame, said frame supporting means and said liningforming means being inclined inwardly and downwardly from the sides ofsaid frame whereby a portion of each of said wheels underlies said framein said second vertical position and said second orientation of saidWheels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,416,740 Neighbor May 23, 1922 2,094,974 Wood Oct. 5, 1937 2,240,236Aitken Apr. 29, 1941 2,311,891 Tyson Feb. 23, 1943 2,480,909 Davis Sept.6, 1949 2,598,903 Gebhard June 3, 1952 2,645,091 Palmer July 14, 19532,827,771 Baer Mar. 25, 1958 2,911,892 "Pollitz Nov. 10, 1959

